Mid-South Primer for NFL Draft: Coleman's star turn, area SEC hopefuls and more

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Former Olive Branch High star Shon Coleman and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will share the stage at Thursday night’s NFL draft from Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Coleman, an offensive lineman at Auburn, hopes to one day hear his name called by Goodell, but Thursday he’ll settle for sharing the commissioner’s role for one, brief, shining moment in the national television spotlight.

Coleman will announce a first-round pick, possibly that of teammate Greg Robinson, who is expected to be among the top five selections. Coleman, who backed up Robinson at left tackle during Auburn’s run to the national title game last season, earned the high-profile gig through his courageous, lengthy and inspirational fight with leukemia.

A former patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Coleman spent nearly three years battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia and was declared cancer-free in the fall of 2012. A five-star prospect coming out of Olive Branch High, Coleman should compete for the starting left tackle job in 2014. Although he graduated last weekend with a degree in public administration, he will have three years of eligibility remaining, giving him more than enough time to earn a return trip to the NFL draft.

It will be a whirlwind trip to the Big Apple for Coleman. After Thursday’s appearance on the main stage, he’ll be a guest Friday on the NFL Network, which has been chronicling his story.

“His story resonated with a lot of people because he put his head down and did the work,” said Amy Stack of St. Jude’s sports marketing department.

While Coleman may have the highest-profile presence among Mid-South area players in New York, here’s an NFL Draft Primer, with a focus, of course, on the area teams and players and the Titans.

THE (AREA’S) TOP PICKS

While the consensus seems to be South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney going first overall when the draft kicks off at 7 p.m., it appears likely that Ole Miss receiver Donte Moncrief may be the top selection from the group of area teams. Well, either Moncrief or Mississippi State offensive lineman Gabe Jackson, who didn’t allow a sack his junior and senior seasons.

Moncrief, 6-2 and 220 pounds, is projected to go as early as the second round based on his solid sophomore and junior seasons and his outstanding performance at the NFL Combine.

Moncrief caught 125 passes for 1,917 yards his final two seasons with the Rebels and averaged more than 15 yards per reception. Rather than return for his senior season, he opted for the draft, where his size, speed, leaping ability and acceleration should attract second-day interest. At the combine, he tied for the longest broad jump among receivers with a leap of 11 feet.

As for Jackson, he’s a 6-3, 335-pound left guard who has the potential to be a late first-round pick. Like Moncrief, Jackson created a buzz at the combine. Jackson bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times, a figure that ranked eighth among offensive linemen. His broad jump of nine feet ranked seventh and he showed impressive acceleration off the line.

THE OTHER AREA SEC TEAMS

Don’t be surprised if Tennessee offensive lineman Ja’Wuan James (6-6, 310) is picked ahead of Moncrief or Jackson. James and teammate/linemate Antonio Richadson (6-6, 335) are potential second-round selections.

James started four years at right tackle for the Vols and is coveted for his pass-blocking acumen.

Vanderbilt counters with receiver Jordan Matthews — projected by some to go to New Orleans in the second round — while Arkansas has potential third-round choices in defensive end Chris Smith and center Travis Swanson.

THE MEMPHIS HOPEFUL(S)

Free safety Lonnie Ballentine, following a strong Pro Day at the U of M in March, is the Tigers’ best chance at having a player drafted. Ballentine ran some sub-4.4 second 40-yard dashes at the Murphy Athletic Complex and displayed a 38-inch vertical leap.

Kevin Omell, who is representing Ballentine, said the Chiefs, Cardinals, Texans, Dolphins, Patriots and Giants have shown the most interest in the former Southwind High player.

The other hopeful is Tiger first-team All-America punter Tom Hornsey, who said Wednesday he has been contacted by a “majority” of NFL teams this week.

THE TITANS

New coach Ken Whisenhunt has some glaring holes to fill. Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner opted for free agency, a development that has analysts predicting the Titans will likely take Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert or Virginia Tech’s Kyle Fuller with the 11th pick in the first round.

The 10th pick in the second round may be taken on a running back. The Titans released Chris Johnson — the only back in the league to post 1,000-yard seasons the past six years — and backups Shonn Greene, Jackie Battle and Leon Washington may not be capable of replacing Johnson’s fleet feet.